Bow for violins



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAML. F. FRENCH, OF FRANKLIN, VERMONT.

BOW FOR VIOLINS.

Speccaton of Letters Patent No. 14,860, dated May 13, 1856.

T0 ((ZZ whom it may concern Be it known that I, SAMUEL F. FRENCH, of Franklin, in the county of Franklin and State of Vermont, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Bows for Violins and other Musical Instruments of Similar Character; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and eXact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure l, is a side View, partly in section, of a violin bow with my improvement. Fig. 2, is a tace view of a portion of the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both figures.

This invention consists in` attaching a Iportion of the hair of the bow to a movable pin or its equivalent, so fitted to the bow that at the pleasure of the player the said portion ot' the hair may either be separated from the other hair of the bow to play soft strains or passages where a light touch is required, or may be united therewith.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed t0 describe its construction and operation.

(a, representl a number of hairs about equal to those of the common bow. These are attached to the bow in the same manner as those of the common bow being connected by one end with the tip e, of the bow, and by the other with the movable slide Z), which is adjusted by the usual screw c, to regulate their tension.

(Z, (Z, represent the hairs that are capable of being detached from the hairs a., (t, or united with them. These may be about siX or eight in number, but I do not limit myselll to this number. They are attached at one end to the tiIp e, of the bow, and at the other to a pin f, which is tted loosely in a hole z', in the slide b, and protrudes through a slot g, in the back part of the handle, occupying such a position that it may be pressed upon by one ot the lingers of the player while in use.

Z1., is a spiral spring which is coiled around the pin f, and attached thereto at its upper or back end, and is contined within a cavity j, formed around the 'pin within the slide, by means of a light plate ot metal 2'., which also serves as a guide. to the pin. This spring acts upon the pin to force it back and thus to cause the hairs (Z, (Z, to unite with (f, (z, as shown in black outline in Fig. l, in which condition the bow operates in the same manner as the common bow. But by pressing on the protruding back end of the pin f, the player may at pleasure torce forward the hairs (Z, (Z, as shown in red outline in F ig. l, in advance of the hairs (Z, (l, and thus separate them to be used alone. Zhen the pressure of the linger is taken off the pin, the hairs (Z (Z, again unite with a, (L. The pressure of the linger may be regulated so as only to throw the hairs (Z, (Z, a little in advance without entirely separating them from (t, a, and by that means the effect of the bow may be graduated in playing. By moving the slide Z), by means of the screw c, the hairs (Z, (Z, are tightened or slackened simultaneously with (t, a, as the pin f, moves along with the slide Z).

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is,

The attachment of a portion (Z, (Z, of the hair of the bow to a movable pin f, or its equivalent, operating as herein described, to separate the said portion (Z, (Z, of the hair, from the main body of hair in the bow, or to unite it therewith at the pleasure of the player.

SAMUEL F. FRENCH.

l.Witnesses J. S. VRIGHT, AARON H. FRENCH, H. F. VRIGHT. 

